Ash woke before dawn, the dream of the twin‑bladed scythe still glowing at the edge of his thoughts. He scribbled the voice's words—Lay bare thy mettle, Scion of the Veil—into his private notebook, then wrote three clear goals for the day:
Strengthen Iron Vein until it covers a full arm.
Push the vault door past thirty percent.
Find a small act of courage to mark Step 2 of the Harvester's Accord.
The Codex reacted with short, neat lines:
Daily focus set. Bonus EXP for each completed goal.
Current WRP 59 / 100.
He smiled, tucked the book under his pillow, and slipped outside into morning grey.
Back in the jungle clearing, Ash rolled his shoulders and let Iron Vein flood his right arm from fingertips to elbow. The weight felt like a metal bracer; the ache punched deeper than yesterday.
He punched a low‑hanging banyan root. A dull thud rang out, louder and cleaner than bare flesh ever could. Bark cracked.
Codex note: Armament EXP +12 – pain tolerance improving.
Ash repeated a slow set of punches, switching arms each time and resting with Pulse Breath in‑between. After twelve sets the Codex posted a tidy update:
Iron Vein duration 3 sec → 5 sec.
Surface hardness increased.
WRP 41 / 100.
Satisfied, he splashed creek water over his arms. Mud mixed with grey flakes where the coating had shed. He caught his reflection in the water—so young, yet his eyes looked older every day.
A single‑masted supply ship sat at anchor just beyond the reef when Ash returned to the main road. Unfamiliar Marines leaned over the rail with spyglasses. Their arrival wasn't due for another week, which meant scouting or inspection.
He walked on casually, but the Codex listed a quiet alert:
Notice: Potential government observers detected.
Advice: Keep training discreet today.
Ash agreed. Secret progress stayed secret progress.
Inside the grand hall, a group of junior scholars crowded around Professor Clover's desk. A rare star‑atlas on loan from a neighboring kingdom had arrived with a cracked spine. Everyone feared handling it.
Ash stepped forward, palms up. "I'll repair it," he offered. Nervous eyes widened—he was still known for accidents—but Clover nodded.
In the bindery room Ash called up Iron Vein only in his fingertips, focusing the coating to steady each finger. He mixed glue, realigned the fragile binding, and pressed the spine closed for a full minute.
He finished with barely a tremor. The scholars cheered softly when Clover announced the atlas saved.
Codex update: Proof of courage accepted.
Harvester's Accord, Step 2 – Complete.
WRP +10 (51/100)
Ash let out a long breath. A new task line slid into view: Offer Veil‑borne will to the sealed door. He grinned. "Did that yesterday."
After supper he borrowed a lantern and slipped to the undercroft. The cold air felt even colder, as if the iron door pulled heat from the hall. Pale runes still glowed where he had fed will the night before.
Ash braced his feet, inhaled, and urged Iron Vein down both arms to the elbows. He placed both palms on the crescent moon. Warmth drained out of him in a rush and the runes flared bright.
Pain spidered up to his shoulders, but he held for three full heartbeats—*
One.* Two.Three.—then yanked back.
The door creaked, a tiny sound like old ice breaking.
Door progress jump: 22 % → 35 %
WRP drop: 51 → 23.
He gasped, sweating, but a grin split his face. "Almost half, and still breathing."
A new glow stirred at eye level: a small circular slot the size of a coin. Runes below formed simple text he could read—"Key of Living Will Required."
"What key?" he whispered. The Codex answered:
Hint: Wraith Sigil may serve as key. Sigil currently sealed in restricted archive.
Ash laughed weakly. "One step always leads to five more." He marked the slot's position in a quick sketch, then staggered upstairs.
Robin sat alone at their usual table, candle low. She looked up, worry flashing in her eyes. "You're pale."
"Too many stairs," he joked, flopping into a chair. He watched her copy glyphs, steady and sure. The candlelight lit her smile when she finished a tricky curve.
He pulled a stray scroll closer. "Teach me one symbol?"
Robin's surprise melted into a pleased grin. She guided his hand: curve, dot, hook. The glyph meant "dawn."
It was harder than any punch. Ink smudged, lines shook, but he did it. Robin clapped softly.
Codex note: Emotional bond strengthened. Minor WRP regen +4.
Ash felt warmer—and a little guilty for the secrets kept under his feet.
That night the scythe returned in his dream, but the hall was darker. Shards of glass floated in the air like frozen sparks.
"The door wakes, but watchers gather," the voice warned. "Guard thy shadow, Scion."
When he woke, dawn light hadn't come yet. The Codex pulsed a short alert:
Marine presence confirmed: small detachment landing at first light.
Recommendation: hide visible Haki training for now.
Ash leaned back on the pillow. "Time to be careful," he murmured, "but not slow."
He reached for his notebook and wrote two new goals:
Locate the Wraith Sigil before the Marines grow nosey.
Train Iron Vein where no one can see.
Below, he added one more line in tiny letters: Robin must stay safe.